Chinese investigators recently found that fluctuating IOP is a significant and independent predictor for subsequent visual field (VF) deterioration in patients with primary angle-closure disease (PACD).

The study included 419 PACD eyes from 240 Chinese patients. The team calculated mean IOP and IOP fluctuation and examined the relationship between IOP control and subsequent VF parameters over time.

The researchers discovered that greater IOP fluctuation was significantly associated with VF deterioration, independent of mean IOP. They note that those with high-threshold mean IOP and high-threshold IOP fluctuation had the most rapid VF deterioration compared with eyes with low-threshold IOP fluctuation. Among eyes with high-threshold mean IOP, they add that eyes with high-threshold IOP fluctuation had a faster rate of VF deterioration compared with eyes with low-threshold IOP fluctuation.

Cheung CY, Li SL, Chan PPM, et al. Intraocular pressure control and visual field changes in primary angle closure disease: the CUHK PACG Longitudinal (CUPAL) study. Br J Opthalmol. August 7, 2019. [Epub ahead of print].